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בְּרַךְ

𐤁𐤓𐤊

bᵉrak

H1289 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ברך to kneel, to bless (invoke or bestow favor)

Definition

Aramaic verb meaning to bless, to show favor toward, or to pronounce a blessing over someone or something. The term can encompass both verbal pronouncements of blessing (invoking divine favor or well-being) and acts of showing favor or approval. In special contexts, particularly in indirect or euphemistic usage (especially regarding 'blessing' God or rulers in situations of adversity), it may function as a circumlocution for 'curse.' The primary range, however, is the invocation or bestowing of benefit or favor, whether by deity or human agents.

Semantic Range

to bless, invoke or bestow favor, pronounce blessing, show favor, to kneel (rare/archaic); euphemistically, to curse (rare/idiomatic)

Root / Etymology

Root: ברך. The root in both Hebrew and Aramaic primarily means 'to kneel' (probably from the physical act of kneeling to greet or show respect), which is developmentally linked to acts of blessing or invoking favor. The verbal form בְּרַךְ in Aramaic is directly cognate to the Hebrew בָּרַךְ. The correlation of 'kneeling' and 'blessing' points to the practice of kneeling in acts of blessing or prayer, though in most instances the primary lexical field is 'to bless.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical Aramaic (e.g., Daniel, Ezra), בְּרַךְ is used chiefly in reference to bestowing honor, favor, or blessing, either from humans to deity or vice versa. While the original physical sense of kneeling is present in the root, the Aramaic verb almost exclusively refers to blessing. Occasionally, as in some later biblical or extra-biblical traditions, the verb is used euphemistically as a polite circumlocution for cursing, particularly when referencing God or rulers, as explicit cursing was taboo. This is seen in direct translation parallels with the Hebrew usage of ברך in Job and Kings. However, in the vast majority of biblical Aramaic occurrences, the primary and intended sense is 'to bless' or 'to invoke blessing.' English translations that render this simply as 'bless' may obscure the rich contextual use, especially the rare euphemistic reversal.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to בָרַךְ; {to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason)}; bless, kneel.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ברך (b-r-k) — kneeling, blessing, invoking favor

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1263 בָּרוּךְ blessed one
H1288 בָרַךְ let me bless
H1290 בֶּרֶךְ knee
H1291 בֶּרֶךְ his knees
H1292 בָּרַכְאֵל El has blessed

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1289-01 בָּרֵ֣ךְ barekhe AVqrmsa kneeled to pronounce blessing 1
H1289-04 בְּרִ֤יךְ berikhe AVQsmsa Blessed be blessed one 1
H1289-03 בָּרִ֖ךְ barikhe AVpp3ms blessed he pronounced blessing 1
H1289-05 מְבָרַ֔ךְ mevarakhe AVpsmsa blessed blessed one 1
H1289-02 בָּרְכֵ֔ת barekhet AVpp1cs I-blessed I pronounced blessing 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1289-03 Daniel 2:19 בָּרִ֖ךְ barikhe AVpp3ms blessed he pronounced blessing
H1289-05 Daniel 2:20 מְבָרַ֔ךְ mevarakhe AVpsmsa blessed blessed one
H1289-04 Daniel 3:28 בְּרִ֤יךְ berikhe AVQsmsa Blessed be blessed one
H1289-02 Daniel 4:31 בָּרְכֵ֔ת barekhet AVpp1cs I-blessed I pronounced blessing
H1289-01 Daniel 6:11 בָּרֵ֣ךְ barekhe AVqrmsa kneeled to pronounce blessing
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